Segment 16- A Salon Soirée
This past week, I had the great delight of giving my first full concert performance in Paris! Thanks to the connections of my dear friend, Nora, we had the opportunity to perform a whole program of music that we love (Schubert, Poulenc, Berg, Debussy…) for a private house concert and a legitimate Parisian Salon.
For those who don’t know, there is a long history of Salon (living room) concerts, events, etc that have long brought together artists and intellectuals in this important capital city. I have loved researching the different connections and friendships that formed between composers, poets and painters at the turn of the century when they encountered one another at such events. To have been part of one was really a dream!
I felt a little rusty after not having performed a big program in many months, but Nora and I have 6 years of history performing together and we got into the swing of things pretty quickly despite my nerves. I had also gotten to hear her perform a section of the program with her duo partner for the Academie d’Orsay both for France Musique (the radio!) and at the Musée d’Orsay the week prior, so it was especially fun to dive in and try some musical things while the work was so fresh.
I was nervous about doing the smalltalk and schmoozing, which are an important part of the post-performance, in French, so I was thankful to have a couple of Americans there with whom to chat. Don’t worry, I also chatted a little in French, and it was interesting to see how, knowing I was American, they didn’t seem to expect me to respond a whole lot in French, but seemed perfectly happy to be able to share their feelings about the performance with me in French, knowing that I could understand.
Otherwise, I continue to practice, teach and attend French classes. I have started to be more social in my dorm, as Covid restrictions start to loosen up more, and that is really a relief. I do like to be a regular young adult and spend time with my peers now and then, too! And I am looking forward to my dad coming to visit next week- rescheduled after the Covid debacle of February (though sadly Kendra can’t join).
Marie in Paris
